Culture & Entertainment · Vietnam Bureau
Vietnam taps diaspora expertise at inaugural intellectuals' forum in Germany
Over 100 Vietnamese scientists, researchers and academics gathered at a major forum in Dortmund to mobilize the country's overseas talent pool. The event underscores Vietnam's strategy to leverage its diaspora for economic and technological advancement.
LSN Vietnam ·
More than 100 scientists, experts, doctoral researchers, students and representatives from Vietnamese and German organizations and enterprises convened at TU Dortmund University on November 8 for the 2026 Vietnam Intellectuals' Forum, marking an ambitious effort to harness the intellectual capital of overseas Vietnamese communities.
The gathering reflects Vietnam's growing recognition of its diaspora as a vital resource for national development, particularly in technology, research and innovation sectors. By creating platforms for engagement between overseas Vietnamese professionals and domestic institutions, the country aims to strengthen collaboration on pressing development challenges.
The forum's timing coincides with deepening Vietnam-Germany strategic ties, a relationship that has expanded significantly across education, science and business domains over the past 15 years. Germany, home to a substantial Vietnamese community, has emerged as an important hub for Vietnamese students and researchers pursuing advanced studies and careers in science and technology.
Such initiatives signal a broader regional trend of Southeast Asian nations actively cultivating connections with their diaspora networks as a competitive advantage in the knowledge economy. The forum provides a structured mechanism for Vietnamese professionals abroad to contribute expertise, facilitate knowledge transfer and explore investment opportunities in their home country.